The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

Epilogue: Homecoming

Within minutes, I am speeding through the main gates of the city, bolting past those who shuffle in and out. A few of them glance my way, but most go about their business. I run as fast as I can along the wall, the great hill that abuts Ilirea looming up before me. Soon, the pathway that leads to the top appears before me. It is hidden so that you don't know it's there until you're right upon it, but I am familiar with this path after treading it hundreds of times before.

The top of the hill is my favorite place to come when I need to be alone, and when I can actually get away, which is not often these days. After a few more minutes of sprinting up the path, I reach the summit of the hill, the dying light of the sun immediately hitting my eyes. The view from up here is breathtaking; you can see for miles and miles around the city, and even catch a glimpse of a few of the smaller outlying towns. The wind whips at my skirt, blowing it about my legs in a frenzy of motion. In the west, the sun is dipping below the horizon. This is it.

Amera, I call out with my mind, where are you?

We are hurrying! comes the frantic response. I only hope they will not miss it. Quickly, I walk across the wide summit, to the most northwesterly point I can reach without plummeting down the side of the hill. I stand upon the rocky outcrop, shielding my eyes from the blinding sun with my hand. Scanning the horizon, I'm glad to find that it's not too late yet.

You'd better hurry, I say pointedly, or you're going to miss it.

Leaving the dragon hold now, she replies quickly. I smile as I feel her own nervousness and excitement wash over me. We have waited so long for this day that we'd begun to believe it might never come. And now that it has, I can hardly contain myself. A few more moments pass by, and I can sense her growing ever closer. What's taking her so long?

Suddenly, I feel a rush of air come up from underneath me, and then her huge violet form streaks past me towards the sky. With a shout and a laugh, I watch as she barrel rolls in the air, and then circles slowly down to land upon the summit. She folds her wings against her body, and I can hear that she's laughing in that odd way that dragons have. After all this time, she is still a show off.

"Did you see us!" a voice calls loudly, colored with excitement. The little boy that sits upon her back pokes his head around her thick neck to grin at me mischievously. I walk over to the pair of them quickly, and I can't help the smile that graces my face.

"Yes," I say in as disapproving a tone as I can muster, "I saw the both of you. And you know I don't like it when you do that."

We're just having a bit of fun, Amera pouts. You never let us have any.

That isn't true at all! I reply with false hurt in my voice. I watch as the little boy struggles with the bulky straps around his legs.

"Mother, I'm stuck! Help me!" he cries. I let out a laugh and climb part of the way up Amera's leg, balancing on her shin as I work at the straps on his right leg, while he works at the left side. "This saddle is too big," he continues once he's free.

"You'll grow into it," I assure him. I hold out my arms to him, waiting for my son to jump into my arms as he always does after he and Amera go for a flight. He flings himself out of the saddle with a joyous laugh, trusting so completely that I will catch him every time. And I always do.

We climb back down Amera's leg 'til we're on solid ground, and then she shakes herself like some great beast of a dog, unfurling her wings as the sails of a ship would when they catch the wind. She's so big now, it's sometimes hard to believe she'd ever been tiny enough to hold in my arms. "Tell me about your lessons today," I say, turning away from my dragon. "What did you learn?" He looks up at me with stark grey eyes and takes hold of my hand when I reach out for him.

"The same thing as the day before, and the day before that, and the day―"

"Tornac," I chide him softly.

"Master Jeod is so boring, Mother," he complains. "Can't I have a new tutor?"

"Master Jeod is the smartest man in all of Alagaësia," I remind him. "You should be proud that he is your tutor. Tell me, what does Prince Ajihad think of him?"

Tornac shrugs his shoulders slightly. "He thinks he's old and stodgy." I have to laugh at the fact that the word "stodgy" has just come out of my nine-year-old's mouth. We stand upon the outcrop at the edge of the hill, and I feel a slight tug on my hand. "Mother?" Tornac asks in a more serious tone. "What are we doing here?"

I kneel down in front of my son, stroking his dark hair and his cheek. My heart is swelling with joy in this moment, but I have to try and contain it. "We're here to meet someone very special, Tornac." I take hold of his hand once more, toying with the bracelet of violet and red he always wears around his small wrist. It looks as new as the day Murtagh gave it to me.

"All the way up here?"

"Yes," I say with a chuckle, "all the way up here." Suddenly, I hear Amera growling deep in her chest, vibrating the rocks we stand upon.

Tabatha, she whispers. And when I look at her, I see her silver eyes are trained on the horizon. Slowly, I stand and take hold of Tornac's hand in mine. We three look toward the treeline in the distance, where Amera's eyes are still focused. There is a stirring within my soul, a culmination of feelings I have built up over many years, and they have to be released someway, somehow. A tear escapes my eye, tracing its way down my cheek, and I feel myself squeeze Tornac's hand a little tighter.

"Who is it?" he asks excitedly, though I am sure he already knows the answer.

There are many things I wish to say in this moment, but I find that no words come to my lips. It hasn't been easy for my son, and I have tried to shield him from any hurt as best as I could. Nasuada counseled me the best she could, and I always made the decision I thought was best. But now... My breath catches in my throat when I see that form on the horizon, blood red scales flashing brilliantly as the sun disappears. In that moment, I know I have to answer my son with the truth.

"Your father, Tornac," I say in a breathy whisper. "He's come home."

TO BE CONTINUED...

***

Thank you all for reading. There will, one day, be a sequel. I'm not sure when that day will be, but it will happen. So for now, this chapter of Tabatha's story is over. I would love to hear your feedback. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for reading!